A Multidisciplinary Study of Soils from the Sha’ar Ha-Golan (Israel) as a Method for Determining Ancient Human Activity

The multidisciplinary study of soils is an important tool in the investigation of archaeological sites. In order to investigate the relationships between magnetic susceptibility (κ) and geochemical characteristics of soil a detailed study of two areas in the Sha’ar Ha-Golan Prehistoric site was performed. Magnetic and self-potential surveys were carried out prior to soil sampling. Soil samples were collected along a 2 ×2 m grid within revealed geophysical anomalies. The content of ten oxides (SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, MnO, K2O, Na2O and P2O5) was determined by bulk silicate analysis by X-ray fluorescence method. The concentrations of 12 trace elements were measured by optical emission spectrography. For the study of the relationships between main chemical components and geophysical data we constructed maps and profiles geophysical and geochemical data distribution and applied correlation analysis. Comparison of κ and geochemical elements distributions along with correlation matrix analysis enabled us to reveal different correlation models in areas of ancient human activities in different archaeological periods. The complex study of magnetic properties and the specific chemical characteristics of the topsoil is an additional tool in the investigation of archaeological sites.